8 Foods From Around The World That Are Said To Bring Good Luck In New Year

As the New Year 2025 approaches, many cultures around the world celebrate with traditional foods believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness for the year ahead. From lentils to fish, these foods symbolize various aspects of wealth, health, and good fortune. Whether you're looking to add a bit of cultural flavour to your celebrations or simply want to try something new, here are some popular New Year's foods from across the globe that are said to bring good luck.

Also Read: New Year 2025: Ridiculous New Year Food Resolutions That Are Meant To Be Broken

Here Are 8 Global Foods Believed To Bring Good Luck In New Year:

1. Lentils - Italy and Brazil

Lentils are a common food symbolizing prosperity in both Italy and Brazil. The small, round shape of lentils is said to resemble coins, representing wealth and financial good fortune. In Italy, it's a tradition to eat lentils at midnight on New Year's Eve, often served with pork to enhance the luck. Similarly, in Brazil, eating lentils on New Year's Day is thought to bring prosperity, with many people also wearing new clothes to invite a fresh start to the year.

2. Fish - Various Countries

Fish are often considered symbols of abundance, fertility, and good fortune. In many cultures, fish is a must-have on New Year's menus. For example, in Spain, it's common to enjoy a feast with fish like cod or sardines, which is believed to bring good luck and a prosperous year. Similarly, in Germany, carp is eaten on New Year's Eve, with the tradition of hiding a fish scale in the wallet for the year, symbolizing financial growth. In the United States, especially in the South, eating fish (particularly fish heads) is thought to bring prosperity because fish swim forward, symbolizing progress.

3. Noodles - Japan and China

Long noodles are a staple of New Year's celebrations in Japan and China, representing longevity and a long, prosperous life. In Japan, toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) are consumed on New Year's Eve to symbolize the crossing over from one year to the next. The tradition is rooted in the belief that the long noodles will bring a long and healthy life. In China, long noodles often served in a hot broth, are a part of New Year's festivities, and they are eaten without breaking to ensure good fortune and longevity.

4. Grapes - Spain

In Spain, a unique New Year's tradition involves eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each stroke of the clock. Each grape is said to represent a month of the coming year, and eating them is believed to bring good luck for each of those months. The tradition dates back to the early 20th century and is now practised in many Spanish-speaking countries, as well as in parts of the United States, where people of Spanish descent continue the custom for a year filled with good fortune.

Also Read: New Year, New Kitchen! 5 Ways To Upgrade Your Kitchen And Make It Aesthetically Pleasing

Many people make new meal plans in the new year
Photo Credit: iStock

5. Pomegranate - Greece and Turkey

Pomegranates are associated with fertility, prosperity, and rebirth in many cultures. In Greece and Turkey, it's traditional to smash a pomegranate on the ground as the New Year begins. The seeds that scatter are thought to bring good luck for the year ahead. In addition to this tradition, pomegranates are often eaten during New Year's celebrations for their vibrant red colour, symbolizing wealth and good health.

6. Cabbage and Greens - Southern United States and Germany

In the Southern United States, collard greens are a staple on New Year's Day. The greens are symbolic of money, as they resemble paper currency, and are believed to bring financial success in the coming year. They are often served with cornbread and black-eyed peas. In Germany, sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) is consumed for similar reasons, as it's believed to bring wealth and good fortune.

Also Read: 5 Surprising Reasons Why Raw Haldi Is THE Morning Ritual You Need In New Year

7. Black-Eyed Peas - United States and Africa

A quintessential New Year's dish in the Southern United States, black-eyed peas are consumed on New Year's Day to bring luck and prosperity. The peas are typically cooked with ham or pork and served with cornbread. The tradition is believed to have originated from African slaves who considered black-eyed peas to be a symbol of abundance and good fortune. The dish is also linked to the Southern belief that the peas represent coins, which will bring wealth in the coming year.

8. Rice - Latin America and Asia

Rice is often thought to symbolize abundance and good fortune, and it's a common food to celebrate the New Year. In Latin America, especially in countries like Cuba and Puerto Rico, arroz con frijoles (rice with beans) is served as part of the festivities. Similarly, in Asia, rice is a symbol of prosperity, with dishes like Lunar New Year rice cakes (such as tteokguk in Korea) eaten for good health and fortune.

The foods we eat during New Year's celebrations are often more than just delicious dishes; they carry deep symbolic meaning in cultures around the world. Whether it's the longevity symbolized by noodles, the wealth represented by lentils, or the prosperity signified by pomegranates, these traditions serve to invite positive energy and good fortune into the coming year.